Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for January 29, 2019


Train harder, for less time

A six-week high-intensity resistance training program improved insulin sensitivity by 16% and increased muscle size and strength in overweight men. The study suggests that short sessions of exercise to exhaustion are equally effective as longer sessions, making it a time-efficient way to improve health outcomes.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateJan 29, 2019

NIH scientists explore tick salivary glands as tool to study virus transmission, infection

Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have discovered that flaviviruses reproduce in specific locations within tick salivary gland cultures. This finding could explain why virus transmission occurs so quickly, and may help identify transmission pathways that can be blocked with a countermeasure.

Scientists discover an immune 'clock' that controls infections and cardiovascular disease

Researchers at CNIC discovered a daily cycle that regulates neutrophil activation, protecting against infection but potentially causing damage to the cardiovascular system. The study suggests that manipulating this clock could lead to new treatments for patients at risk of cardiovascular events or infections.

Do women with breast cancer have a higher risk of atrial fibrillation?

A new study published in HeartRhythm found that women with breast cancer have an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation within three years following their cancer diagnosis compared to other women of the same age. The risk is higher for younger patients, with more than doubled incidence in those under sixty years old.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeartRhythm Case Reports·DateJan 29, 2019

Anemones are friends to fish

A study by University of Delaware researchers reveals that larger-bodied fish, like juveniles, associate with anemones for protection, while smaller species partner with them throughout their lives. This mutualistic relationship is driven by predation and helps fish avoid predators in ocean reefs.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalEcology Letters·DateJan 29, 2019

Cattle urine's planet-warming power can be curtailed with land restoration

A recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals that cattle urine releases more nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, when spilled on degraded land compared to healthy pasture. Land restoration and conservation efforts can mitigate this impact by improving forage grasses, rotational grazing, and adding shrubs and trees.

New findings about anti-malaria drug

A recent study has uncovered the molecular basis for artemisinins' effect on inhibitory neurotransmission, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological diseases. The research reveals that artemisinins target gephyrin, a protein involved in regulating inhibitory neurotransmission.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNeuron·DateJan 29, 2019

Superconductors: Resistance is futile

Researchers have discovered that immobile charge carriers play a crucial role in superconductivity, acting as a 'glue' to pair mobile charge carriers and enable zero resistance. The study reveals the delicate balance between mobile and immobile charge carriers is key to understanding high-temperature superconductivity.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 29, 2019

Engineering a cancer-fighting virus

Researchers engineered a virus that selectively targets and kills cancer cells, surpassing another viral treatment currently in use. The modified adenovirus, dl355, replicates more efficiently in cancer cells than normal cells, resulting in higher cancer cell kill rates.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalOncology Reports·DateJan 29, 2019

Earthquake in super slo-mo

A 2-month lasting ultra-slow earthquake occurred south of Istanbul, coinciding with moderate-sized seismicity at shallow depth. The study sheds light on the interaction between aseismic slow deformation and seismically released energy, enhancing regional seismic risk assessment for the densely populated city.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateJan 29, 2019

Protecting the field of dreams

University of Utah engineers create low-power sensors that can detect organic compounds emitted by corn plants when attacked by insects or weeds. These sensors will alert farmers to potential threats, potentially increasing crop yields and reducing damage to biomass production.

How black holes power plasma jets

Astronomers have discovered that particle escapees from black holes steal rotational energy through interactions with magnetic fields, resulting in high-speed plasma jets. The new simulations show two main mechanisms: the Blandford-Znajek process and a particle-boosting mechanism near the equator.

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 29, 2019

Weather at key growth stages predicts Midwest corn yield and grain quality, study says

A University of Illinois study developed an algorithm to predict both end-of-season yield and grain composition by analyzing weather patterns during three critical periods in corn development. The predictions apply to the entire Midwest corn crop and could influence global markets for animal feed applications.

Alzheimer's in a dish

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have created a new model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease, which points to molecular causes and potential treatments. The model, reported in Cell Reports, removes a major obstacle for scientists seeking to understand the disease.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 29, 2019

Laser-fabricated crystals in glass are ferroelectric

A team of researchers has demonstrated that laser-generated crystals in glass can be manipulated to control their ferroelectric domain structure. This allows for the creation of new optical devices with high efficiency and low loss links, crucial for future quantum information transfer systems.

SourceLehigh University·JournalMRS Communications·DateJan 29, 2019

How to send a finch extinct

A University of Queensland-led study found that environmental legislation is failing to protect the southern black-throated finch's habitat, leading to a steep decline in its population. The research highlights the need to halt the decline of this bird's habitat to prevent extinction.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalEnvironmental Science & Policy·DateJan 29, 2019